11 November 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 11 November 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 28 and 29

In the first psalm, the there is an appeal to not be like people who don’t believe and / or those who are deceitful. The psalmist changes focus and reminds us how big and powerful God is.

The next psalm picks up this theme of the almighty power of God whose voice makes water, forests, mountains and fire dance or whirl. The Lord’s power brings people confidence and peace.

Jonah 2

Jonah having been cast into the sea and now in the belly of the fish prays to God. Written is his prayer of thanksgiving for his deliverance. The Lord spoke to the fish and it spewed Jonah out on to dry land.

Matthew 23: 1 – 15

Jesus tells the crowd that the scribes and Pharisees know their Mosaic Law and have their position because of it. The people are to listen to them and learn but not follow all the minute interpretations that tie up people in knots. Instead the people are to listen and pray and take their instruction from the Messiah. Jesus laments the scribes and Pharisees whose behaviour effectively does the opposite of their intentions – it harms widows instead of caring for them and blocks from kingdom of heaven the Pharisees and those who follow them.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Intersection
WA 2014 L Osburn

Wonderful, gracious and mighty God you deliver us when we call on you even when we are heading in the wrong direction or full of pride. By your grace you break through our stubbornness. Today Lord break through into our lives and turn us around so that we face you, serve you and do so with love and compassion for all so that all who contact us are enabled, encouraged and supported to enter your kingdom through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord and Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 30 and 32

The first psalm is of praise and thanksgiving for healing and prayers answered.

The second psalm tells how happy we are when our sins are forgiven. The psalmist tells of an illness cured as soon as sins are repented.  Therefore everyone is to pray to the Lord when in distress. The Lord our hiding place, preserves us and delivers us. Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. We should be glad, rejoice and shout for joy.

Bel and the Dragon 23 – 42

The Babylonians also have a dragon that they worship. The king challenges Daniel saying that he cannot deny that the dragon is alive – a living god. Daniel promises to kill the dragon without sword or club. He feed the creature pitch, fat and hair. The creature bursts open and people can see it is just a creature not a god.

The Babylonians are angry and accuse the king of becoming Jew. They threaten the king and his household unless he hands over Daniel. They put Daniel in a den of lions.

Meanwhile in Judea, Habakkuk a prophet makes a stew and is visited by an angel telling him to feed the stew to Daniel in the lion’s den. Habakkuk admits he does not know where that is so the angel takes him there. Daniel is fed. The king comes on the seventh day to the lion’s den and finds Daniel alive. He releases Daniel, praises God and has those who challenged him put into the den where they all perish.

Revelation 3: 7 – 13

John is to write to the church in Philadelphia. Jesus knows they are small and faithful and struggling with a difficult synagogue. As a result of the Philadelphians’ patient endurance they will be protected in the trials to come. They are to hold fast to what they have and by doing so be conquerors, named for God and their city named for the new Jerusalem.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The Old Pier
Eucla WA 2014 E Byford

Holy and almighty God, you provide forgiveness, deliverance and steadfast love to your faithful people everywhere especially those facing illness, distress, threats to their lives and challenges to their beliefs. Hear the prayers of the faithful, deliver them so that your people may hold fast in their beliefs and be conquerors by your grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.